Control of electric switches



Jan. 30, 1945. J. P. FRAPS CONTROL OF ELECTRIC SWITCHES Filed June 23, 1943 LINE LOAD

' Inventor: Junius P. Pra s,

Him Attnrney Patented Jan. 30, 1945 CONTROL OF ELECTRIC SWITCHES Junius P. Fraps, Yeadon, Pa., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application June 23, 1943, Serial No. 491,927

Claims. (c1. 175-494) My invention relates to improvements in the control of electric switches and more particularly trip-free circuit breakers which are opened automatically on the occurrence of abnormal circuit conditions and which are arranged to have their closing operation controlled by the closing of a control switch and by associated apparatus energized from a source of electromotive force, such as the circuit controlled by the circuit breaker, subject to a material decrease in voltage.

Certain anti-pump control arrangements for automatic trip-free circuit breaker embody a plurality of devices which assume different relative positions during the closing and opening operations of the circuit breaker to prevent pumping thereof in the event the circuit breaker is closed on a faulty circuit and the control switch remains closed. The maintenance of these relative positions for the desired sequence of operation is predicated on a control source of electromotive' force, such as a station battery, whose voltage is practically constant. Frequently it is necessary or desirable to obtain the control voltage from the circuit controlled by the circuit breaker on the line or source side of the circuit breaker.. But such voltage will vary considerably and may even practically disappear in case of a fault near the circuit breaker. In consequence of these decreases in or failure of voltage, the intended relative positions of the control devices throughout the desired sequence of operation are not maintained. Then, if the control switch is allowed to remain closed, either intentionally or otherwise, the circuit breaker is likely to continue to open and close rapidly while the abnormal condition lasts and the control switch remains closed. This so-called pumping action, if allowed to continue, is liable to result in serious damage to the circuit breaker and other connected apparatus.

An object of my invention is to provide for an automatic trip-free circuit breaker, an improved closing control arrangement which can be energized for operation from a source of electromotive force subject to material decrease in voltage without repeated opening and closing of the circuit breaker during abnormal conditions even though the control switch is left closed. Another object of my invention is to provide for an automatic trip-free circuit breaker an improved anti-pump control arrangement which positively prevents pumping even though energized directly from the circuit controlled by the circuit breaker. These and other objects of my invention will appear in more detail hereinafter.

In accordance with my invention, I provide for automatic trip-free circuit breakers an improved anti-pump control arrangement wherein a decrease in the voltage of the control source, sufficient to alter a predetermined sequence of operations of the control apparatus based on a fixed control voltage by virtue of a change in the relative positions of the apparatus, is ineffective to cause pumping. Also in accordance with my invention, I provide an improved control circuit which is so jointly controlled by a control switch and means responsive to the voltage of the control source as to prevent maintenance of the control circuit if the control voltage decreases materially or fails while the control switch remains closed during abnormal circuit conditions causing the opening of the circuit breaker. Further in accordance with my invention, I provide for automatic trip-free circuit breakers an improved anti-pump control arrangement wherein, although all of the electrically actuated apparatus may be arranged to be energized directly on the line side of the circuit controlled by the circuit breaker, pumping will not occur on the occurrence of abnormal circuit conditions causing material decreases or failure of the circuit voltage while the control switch is closed.

My invention will be better understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying sheet of drawings, and its scope will be pointed out in the appended claims.

The single figure of the accompanying drawing diagrammatically illustrates an embodiment of my invention as applied to control the closing of a circuit breaker I, which for simplicity is shown two-pole in a circuit comprising conductors 2 and 2. It will, of course, be obvious that as far as my invention is concerned the number of poles in the circuit breaker is immaterial. As schematically shown, the circuit breaker is of the automatic trip-free type and is provided with electrically actuated closing means 3 and tripping means 4, 4 which are responsive to abnormal conditions on the circuit 2, 2 to effect the opening of the circuit breaker I. Also, as schematically shown, the closing and tripping means are of the electromagnetic solenoid type comprising windings 5, and 6 and 6' respectively, although it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that my invention is not limited to this particular type. The tripping windings 6 and 6' are shown as overcurrent trip coils which are respectively responsive to the current flowing in the circuit conductors 2, and 2 to'actuate the solenoid plunger 4 and 4' on the occurrence of excess current conditions whereby to collapse the over-center circuit breaker holding toggle I. With the col.- lapse of this toggle, the circuit breaker I is free to open under suitable bias such as furnished by a spring 6 since the over-center operating toggle 9 can collapse downwardly when the restraint of the abutment I is removed by the collapse of the holding toggle I. The circuit breaker I is also provided with an c auxiliary switch II which closes during the closing operation of the circuit breaker and opens during the opening operation thereof.

In accordance with my invention, I provide for the closing means 3 a control arrangement which can be energized directly from the line or source side of the circuit breaker I or any other control source subject to material decrease in voltage without danger of pumping in consequence of such voltage variation. Thus in accordance with my invention, I provide a controlcircuit including conductors I2 and I3 respectively connected to the power circuit conductors 2 and 2' on the line side of the circuit breaker I, contacts I4 in the control circuit, means I5 responsive to the voltage of the circuit 2, 2 on the line side of the circuit breaker for controlling the contacts I4, a control switch I6 arranged when closed to connect the control circuit to the source side of the circuit breaker and means jointly controlled by.the voltage responsive means I5 and the control switch I i for rendering the voltage responsive means inoperative to close the contacts I4 until after thecontrol switch has been opened. As shown, the voltage responsive means I6 is an electromagnetic device such as a relay having an energizing windin II connected directly across the circuit 2, 2' on the line side of the circuit breakenthrough the conductors I2 and I3 and'suitable current limiting means'such as a resistance I 8, Also, as shown, the means jointly controlled by the control switch I6 and the relay I5 is a bypass or lockout circuit for the winding". This circuit comprises the control switch I6, a con'cluctor IiI, contacts 20 of the relay I5 and conductor 2| all so "arranged that when the relay I6 drops out because of decrease in voltage on the line side "ot'the circuit breaker I, the winding I1 is short circuited if the control switch I6 is closed. Consequently, with return of circuit voltage to normal value after clearance of a fault, even though the relay I5 is'set to pickup at such value, no response is possible until the control switch I6 is opened. In other words, whenever the voltage on the line side ofthe' circuit breaker I decreases below a predetermined value such that the relay I5 drops out while the control switch I6 is closed, no pick-up of this relay can occur on return of voltage to the normal or pick-up value until alter the control switch I6 is opened. With normal voltage on the line side of the circuit breaker I, the voltage relay I5 is in the picked-up position with its contacts 26 open and its contacts I4 closed. If

the voltage decreases suddenly to a low value, as in case of a short circuit'close to the circuit breaker I, then the relay I5 drops out to open its contacts I4 and to tend to close its contacts 20. During this tripping time or circuit breaker opening time, the voltage may return to normal before the contacts 20 are closed. If the voltage does so return while the control switch is closed, then the voltage relay III will pick up again without shortingits winding II. In order'to avoid this possibility, the circuit controlling members 22 and 23 on the voltage relay 'I5are so" arranged III ' that it has not been closed and it is the circuit breaker is likely to of the voltage relay I 5, the contacts that each must make before the other breaks. This is shown schematically by having these members loosely mounted on the operating relay rod 24 and biased apart by a spring 25 against limiting collars or stops 26 and 21.

In order further to control the energization of the closing means 5, I connect in the control circuit a suitable electromagnetic switching means such as aclosing relay 28 whose energizing winding 29 is in series with the control switch I6, the contacts I4 of the voltage relay I5, and the closed when deenergized contacts 30 of an electromagnetic control device such as a cut-off The closing relay 28 is provided with circuit closing contacts 32, which in the pickedup position of this relay connect the closing coil 5 across the circuit 2, 2' on the line side of the circuit breaker I. In order to eilect deenergization of the closing coil 5 whenthe circuit breaker closing movement is sufiiciently completed to insure latching under normal operating conditions, the cut-oil relay 3| is arranged to be energized responsively to the closing operation of the circuit breaker so as to open its contacts 30 in the control circuit and thereby to effect deenergization of the closing relay 28. For this purpose, the control circuit includes a branch comprising conductors 33 and 34, and the circuit breaker auxiliary switch I I when closed eii'ects pick-up of the cut-off relay if the source voltage is normal, the contacts I4 are closed, and the control switch I6 is closed. In this pick-up action of the cut-oil relay 3|, its contacts 30 are opened to efiect deenergization of the closing relay 26 and thereby to drop out this relay to open the circuit of the closing coil 5. Upon pick-up of the cut-off relay 3|, this relay seals itself in through its circuit closing contacts 35 whereby to prevent reenergization of the closing relay 28 as long as the source voltage is sufiicient to maintain the relay 3| in the picked-up position 'and the contacts I4 and the control switch I6 are closed.

Assuming the parts positioned as shown in the drawing, then as long as the Voltage on the line side of the circuit breaker I is normal, the voltage relay I5 will be picked up as shown since its circuit is completed through the conductor I2, the resistance I8 and the conductor I3. Assuming now that a fault occurs on the load side of the circuit 2, 2' with sufficient current to effect the tripping of the circuit breaker by energization of one or both of the trip coils 6, B, then the circuit breaker will be opened. Concurrently with the fault, the voltage on the line side 'of fall sulIiciently to drop out the voltage relay I5. Immediately upon the opening of the circuit breaker, however, voltage will return to normal on the line side of the circuit breaker, and the voltage relay I5 will again pick up unless the control switch I6 has been closed in the meantime. Assuming desired to close the circuit breaker, then, since the voltage relay I5 has closed its contacts I4 upon return of voltage, the closing of the switch I6 completes the control circuit as follows: the conductor I2, the control switch I6, the contacts I4 30 of the cut-01f relay 3| the winding29 of the closing relay 2B, and the conductor I3. This effects the energization of the closing relay which, if the voltage is normal, will pick up and close itsContacts 32 and thereby complete the circuitcf the closing coil 5 in the circuit comprising the conductor I3, the contacts 32, the conductor 36, the

closing winding 5, and the conductor [2. Upon the closure of the circuit breaker auxiliary switch II, the circuit of the winding 31 of the cut-off relay 3! is completed as follows: the conductor [2, the control switch IS, the contacts M of the voltage relay IS, the conductor 33, the auxiliary switch I I, the conductor 34, the winding 31 of the cut-off relay, and the conductor [3. If the voltage on the line side of the circuit breaker is normal, this cut-ofi relay 3i picks up to close its contacts 35 and thereby to maintain itself in .the operated position as long as the control switch I6 is closed, the contacts 14 of the voltage relay are closed, and the source voltage does not fall below a predetermined value. Upon pickup of the cut-off relay 3!, the circuit of the winding of the closing relay 28 is interrupted at the contacts 30 of the cut-off relay 3|. This drops out the closing relay 28 to eifect the deenergization of the closing coil 5.

If it be assumed that the cut-ofi relay 3| drops out at a value of voltage greater than the dropout voltage of the relay l5 and that a fault causes the voltage to fall to a value between these two drop-out values, then the cut-off relay 3| would not maintain its operated position, but the relay l5 would remain in its picked-up position. If the circuit breaker I should trip open at this time, the control voltage would return to normal. Consequently, if the control switch [6 is closed, the circuit breaker would reclose because the relay I5 has not dropped out to short circuit its coil and open the control circuit. Obviously, if the relay l5 had dropped out during these conditions of voltage, the circuit breaker could not reclose. Consequently, it is essential that the relay I5 should drop out at the same or a slightly higher voltage than would allow the cut-off relay 3| to drop out.

As long as the control switch l6 remains closed and the voltage on the-line side of the circuit breaker has not decreased sufiiciently to drop out the relays l5 and 3|, the closing relay 28 cannot be reenergized to effect another closing of the circuit breaker, except by opening the control switch 16. If the circuit breaker is closed on a fault, then the voltage on the line side of the circuit breaker may well fall to a value below the drop-out voltage of the relays l5 and 3|. If this happens and the control switch I6 is still closed, then return of voltage to the normal value, following the opening of the circuit breaker I, will not effect a reclosing of the circuit breaker even though the control switch [6 is closed since the drop-out of the relay l5 closed its contacts 20, which together with the control switch I6 in the closed position by-passed the relay winding l1 whereby to maintain it in the dropped-out position. In other words, regardless of whether the circuit breaker is closed and remains closed or opens when closed upon a fault, the circuit breaker cannot continue to pump'even though the sequence of operations of the relays 28 and 3| is upset by the voltage change, since the relay [5 is automatically locked out as long as the control switch I6 remains in the closed position.

While I have shown and described my invention in considerable detail, I do not desire to be limited to the exact arrangement shown, but seek to cover in the appended claims all those modifications that fall within the true spirit and scope of my invention.

Letters Patent of: the United States, is: l

1. An arrangement for controlling the energization of a control circuit from a source of electromotiv force comprising contacts in the control circuit, means adapted to operate in dependence on the voltage or" the source for controlling said contacts, a control switch for connecting said circuit to the source, and means jointly controlled by said voltage dependent means and said control switch for rendering said voltage dependent means inoperative to close said contacts while said control switch is closed.

2. An arrangement for controlling the energization of a control circuit from a source of electromotive force comprising contacts in the control circuit, means adapted to operate in dependence on the voltage of the source for closing said contacts when the voltage is above a predetermined value, a control switch for connecting said circuit to the source, and means jointly controlled by said voltage dependent means and said control switch for rendering said voltage dependent means inoperative to reclose said contacts when they have been opened in consequence of the voltage of the source decreasing below said predetermined value.

3. In an anti-pump closing control arrangement for an automatic trip-free circuit breaker, a control circuit, means for controlling the energization of the control circuit from a source of electromotive force comprising a control switch in said control circuit, two electrically interlocked relays connected to be energized from said control circuit for operation in a predetermined sequence dependent on maintenance of the voltage of said source above a predetermined value, means for controlling said control circuit to prevent a pumping action of the circuit breaker in con sequence of decrease of voltage below said value comprising a voltage dependent device for operation in accordance with the voltage of the source, and means controlled by said device, and dependent on the position of said control switch for preventing energization of said control circuit following a decrease in the voltage of the source below said predetermined value while the control switch is closed. 1

4. An arrangement for controlling the ener gization of a control circuit from a source of electromotive force comprising means adapted to operate in dependence on the voltage of the source having a first set of contacts in said control circuit, a control switch adapted to be operated to connect said circuit to the source, a lock-out circuit for preventing the effective reenergization of said voltage dependent means when the voltage of the source falls below a predetermined value while the control switch is closed, and

means for jointly controlling said lock-out circuit including said control switch and a second set of contacts controlled by said voltage dependent means. 4

5. An arrangement for controlling the energization of a control circuit from a source of r electromotive force comprising means adapted to operate in dependence on the voltage of the source having a first set of contacts in said control circuit, a control switch adapted to be operated to connect said circuit to the source, a lockout circuit for preventing the effective reenergization of said voltage dependent means when the voltage of the source falls below a predetermined value while the control switch is closed, and means for jointly controlling said lock-out circuit including said control switch and a second set of contacts controlled by said voltage dependent means, said two sets of contacts controlled by said voltage dependent means being so arranged that each must make before the other breaks.

6. In an anti-pump control arrangement for an automatic trip-free circuit breaker provided with electrically actuated closing means and including an auxiliary switch closing in response to the closing of the circuit breaker, means for controlling the closing 01 said circuit breaker from a source of electromotive force comprising a closing relay operative in the picked-up position to connect said closing means to the source, a cutofl relay, a voltage relay connected to the source, a control switch effective in the closed position while the voltage relay is in the dropped-out position to prevent pick-up or the voltage relay, means 101' connecting the closing relay to the source upon closure of the control switch while the cutoil relay is in the dropped out position and the voltage relay is in the picked-up position, means for connecting the cut-oil relay to the source upon closure of said auxiliary switch while said control switch is closed and said voltage relay is in the picked-up position, and means controlled by said cut-off relay upon pick-up thereof for disconnecting the closing relay from the source and for maintaining the cut-off relay in the picked-up position as long as the control switch remains closed and the voltage relay is in the picked-up position.

7. In an anti-pump control arrangement for an automatic trip-free circuit breaker provided with electrically actuated closing means and including an auxiliary switch closing in response to the closing of the circuit breaker, means for controlling the closing of the circuit breaker from a source of electromotive force comprising a closing relay operative in the picked-up position to connect said closing means across the source, a cut-oif relay set to pick-up at substantially the normal voltage of the source, a voltage relay connected across said source and set to pick-up when the source voltage is substantially normal, a control switch effective in the closed position while the voltage relay is in the dropped-out position to prevent pick-up of the voltage relay, means for connecting the closing relay across the source upon closure of the control switch while the cutoii relay is in the dropped-out position and the voltage relay is in the picked-up position, means for connecting the cut-ofi relay across the source upon closure of said auxiliary switch while said control switch is closed and said voltage relay is in the picked-up position whereby to effect pickup of the cut-off relay when the source voltage is substantially normal, and means controlled by said cut-oil relay upon pick-up thereof for disconnecting the closing relay from the source and for maintaining the cut-off relay in the picked-up position as long as the control switch remains closed and the voltage relay is in the picked-up position.

8. In an anti-pump control arrangement for an automatic trip-free circuit breaker provided with electrically actuated closing means and including auxiliary switching means closing in response to the closing of the circuit breaker, means ;for controlling the closing of the circuit breaker from a source of electromotive force comprising electromagnetic switching means for efifecting the energization of said closing means from the ounce, an electromagnetic cut-oil device for controlling the energization of said switching means, an electromagnetic voltage device connected to be energized from the source and comprising a circuit controlling member movable to a first circuit controlling position when the source voltage is not less than a, predetermined value and to a second circuit controlling position when the source voltage falls below said predetermined value by a given amount, a control switch effective in a given circuit controlling position while said member is in said second position to prevent movement thereof to said first position, means for efiecting the energization of said electromagnetic switching means from the source upon actuation of the control switch to said given position while the electromagnetic cut-off device is deenergized and said member is in said first position, means for effecting the energization of said electromagnetic cut-off device from the source upon closure of said auxiliary switching means while the control switch is in said given position and said member is in said first position whereby to effect operation of the electromagnetic cut-off device when the source voltage is not less than said predetermined value, and means controlled by said electromagnetic cut-off device upon operation thereof to effect deenergization of said electromagnetic switching means and to maintain the electromagnetic cut-oil device in its operated condition as long as the control switch is in said given position and said circuit-controlling member is in said first position.

9. In an anti-pump arrangement for controlling the closing of an automatic trip-free circuit breaker from the circuit controlled by the circuit breaker, the circuit breaker being provided with electrically actuated closing means and auxiliary switching means closing in response to the closing of the circuit breaker electromagnetic switching means for connecting said closing means across said circuit on the source side of the circuit breaker, an electromagnetic cut-off device for controlling the energization of said switching means, an electromagnetic voltage device connected across said circuit on the source side of the circuit breaker and comprising a circuit controlling member movable to a first circuit controlling position when the circuit voltage is substantially normal and to a second circuit controlling position when the circuit voltage falls below normal by a given amount, a control switch effective in a given circuit controlling position while said member is in said second position to prevent movement thereof to said first position, means for connecting said electromagnetic switching means across said circuit on the source side of the circuit breaker upon closure of the control switch while the electromagnetic cut-of! device is deenergized and said member is in said first position, means for connecting said electromagnetic cut-elf device across said circuit on the source side of the circuit breaker upon closure of said auxiliary switch while the control switch is in said given position and said member is in said first position whereby to effect operation of the electromagnetic cut-oil device when the circuit voltage on the source side of the circuit breaker is substantially normal, and means controlled by said electromagnetic cut-oil device upon operation thereof to effect deenergization of said electromagnetic switching means and to maintain the electromagnetic cut-oil device in its operated condition as long as the control switch is in said given position and said circuit controlling member is in said one position.

10. In an anti-pump arrangement for controlling the closing of an automatic trip-free circuit breaker from the circuit controlled by the circuit breaker, the circuit breaker being provided with electrically actuated closing means and an auxiliary switch closing in response to the closing of the circuit breaker, a closing relay operative in the picked-up position to connect said closing means across said circuit on the source side of the circuit breaker, a cut-off relay, a voltage relay connected across said circuit on the source side of the circuit breaker and operative to the pickedup position when the circuit voltage is substantially normal, a control switch effective in the closed position while the voltage relay is in the dropped-out position to prevent pick-up of the voltage relay, means for connecting the closing relay across said circuit on the source side of the circuit breaker upon closure of the control switch while the cut-off relay is in the dropped-out position and the voltage relay is in the picked-up position, means for connecting the cut-ofi relay across said circuit on the source side of the circuit breaker upon closure of the auxiliary switch while the control switch is closed and the voltage relay is in the picked-up position whereby to effect pick-up of the cut-ofi relay when the circuit voltage is substantially normal, and means controlled by said cut-on relay upon pick-up thereof to effect deenergization ofthe closing relay and to maintain the cut-off relay in the picked-up position as long as the control switch remains closed and the voltage relay is in the picked-up position.

JUNIUS P. FRAPS. 

